The glucometer is a medical device whose purpose is to ascertain the blood sugar concentration of a person. It may also be called a glucose meter. The tool is a necessity for people with type one and type two diabetes or hypoglycemia. These people are required to keep track of their blood glucose levels at home several times in a day and adhere to normal levels as far as they can.
Individuals can use these tools to measure blood sugar levels by pricking some blood from their fingers and then putting it on a disposable test strip. Then, they feed the test strip to the meter which uses the sample to calculate the sugar level. In a handful of minutes, glucose meters display results in milligrams per deciliter or millimoles per liter.
Monitoring blood glucose in this manner is pricey especially for persons who have type 1 diabetes. These persons need to test their blood up to ten times every day. The cost arises from the fact that each test strip may be used for one time only, and each strip costs anywhere from a 50 cents to a few dollars. There are even glucometer manufacturers who hand out the machine for free in order to secure sales of test strips. However, meters that use discs that are reusable are also available in the market.
Patients searching for their own glucose meters should take some factors into consideration. Physical features of glucose meters are size, display, clock, and memory. The usual meter is the size of a human palm, and some are larger or smaller.
Different meters also give the result in different units of measure. Meters issued in the U. S., France, Japan, Israel, and India typically give the reading in milligrams per deciliter. On the other hand those issued in Canada, Australia, China and the UK give the reading in millimoles per liter. To convert between the two units of measurement, simply multiply millimoles per liter by 18 or divide milligrams per deciliter by 18. At present, only hospitals and doctors in Germany routinely work in both units of measurement.
One other quality that changes from variant to variant is the clock, or memory. This is the feature that shows the present time and date. It is also the one that hoards past results. The more memory there is, the more results can be hoarded. The memory makes it possible for individuals to view trends and patterns in their blood sugar concentrations.
Because these devices are typically used to monitor medical ailments, their accuracy is a very essential factor. According to the International Organization for Standardization, glucose meters must be accurate to within 20% of a laboratory standard 95% of the time. A proper glucose meter must therefore be not so susceptible to room temperature and humidity, blood volume and quality, old test strips, and the presence of other substances in the blood.
Maybe in the future meters that do not need blood samples can be invented that will allow continuous monitoring of sugar concentrations. However, individuals will have to settle for the glucometer of today. In selecting such a device, individuals have to take into consideration the cost of the test strips or discs, the memory capacity, size, and accuracy.
Individuals can use these tools to measure blood sugar levels by pricking some blood from their fingers and then putting it on a disposable test strip. Then, they feed the test strip to the meter which uses the sample to calculate the sugar level. In a handful of minutes, glucose meters display results in milligrams per deciliter or millimoles per liter.
Monitoring blood glucose in this manner is pricey especially for persons who have type 1 diabetes. These persons need to test their blood up to ten times every day. The cost arises from the fact that each test strip may be used for one time only, and each strip costs anywhere from a 50 cents to a few dollars. There are even glucometer manufacturers who hand out the machine for free in order to secure sales of test strips. However, meters that use discs that are reusable are also available in the market.
Patients searching for their own glucose meters should take some factors into consideration. Physical features of glucose meters are size, display, clock, and memory. The usual meter is the size of a human palm, and some are larger or smaller.
Different meters also give the result in different units of measure. Meters issued in the U. S., France, Japan, Israel, and India typically give the reading in milligrams per deciliter. On the other hand those issued in Canada, Australia, China and the UK give the reading in millimoles per liter. To convert between the two units of measurement, simply multiply millimoles per liter by 18 or divide milligrams per deciliter by 18. At present, only hospitals and doctors in Germany routinely work in both units of measurement.
One other quality that changes from variant to variant is the clock, or memory. This is the feature that shows the present time and date. It is also the one that hoards past results. The more memory there is, the more results can be hoarded. The memory makes it possible for individuals to view trends and patterns in their blood sugar concentrations.
Because these devices are typically used to monitor medical ailments, their accuracy is a very essential factor. According to the International Organization for Standardization, glucose meters must be accurate to within 20% of a laboratory standard 95% of the time. A proper glucose meter must therefore be not so susceptible to room temperature and humidity, blood volume and quality, old test strips, and the presence of other substances in the blood.
Maybe in the future meters that do not need blood samples can be invented that will allow continuous monitoring of sugar concentrations. However, individuals will have to settle for the glucometer of today. In selecting such a device, individuals have to take into consideration the cost of the test strips or discs, the memory capacity, size, and accuracy.
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Did you know and more that a glucometer is used to measure the concentration of sugar in the bloodstream? All you need to know and more about this incredible medical device now in our online guide to the best glucometers on the market.
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